Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-06-23


school was closed. but MIR. Allis re-
manned in Woodford to read law with |
Judge Howe-and hover about his pref
ty daughter, rumor added. He spent
the evening at our house occasionally.
| set it down to the credit of his good
nature that he did so, for / felt power
less to entertain him.
Aunt Pidge, at each repeated call,
catechized him faithfully in regard to
the state of his lungs, and supposed he
came to consult her about his cough
which certainly did not improve under
her prescriptions. 1t was, evidently,
of a nervous, rather than pulmonary
nature, since it never seized him except
in her presence.
wondered he should come so fire.
quently, since Kate Howe lived in an
other direction. Perhaps he wished to
blind prying eyes, thought, or Aunt
Polly's comical sayings attracted him.
1t was not strange that he became
enamored of Kate's charms, for almost
every susceptible young man in town
did. Indeed. one love-lorn sophomore
went so far as to publish sonnet to
her in the village Gazette, in which he
likened her mouth to Cupid's bow, and
made other original comparisons.
BY the way, | never could account
for it, on scientific principles, why ar
rows are shot from the eyes of beauty.
If the mouth is the bow, why does not
that shoot the darts?
The snow came early in December,
and with its usual winter gayeties.
There was to be large party at Tan
glewood, three miles from Woodford,
and the young gentlemen were active
in their preparations for conveying the
girls thlther. / was surprised at re-
ceiving an early invitation from Mr..
Allis.
"Kate Howe has vexed him in some
way, and he asks me from pique, or to
arouse her jealousy" l thought, as l
arranged my hair before the mirror.
"But what has that to do with me,
Miriam Grayp If l had refused his in
vitation, etiquette would have forbid
den me accepting any later one, and l
must have stayed at home, which l
have no idea of doing"
Philosophizing thus, l gave the final
stroke to my hair, and paused to note
the effect. Now there is this objection
to writing ones autobiography. You
must humbly describe yourself as a
plain, unattractive person, or be set
down as conceited at once. Why not
tell the truth about ones self, as about
othersP Is the writer of stories neces-
sarily story-teller in the offensive
sensep
l have not had such sage maxims as
Beauty is only skin-deep," "Hand-
some is that handsome does" ETC., in
stilled into my mind from early child
hood, without concluding that l have
some claims to beauty, or there would
be no need of such counsel. Perfect
health, and plenty of air and exercise,
had given me clear complexion, of
which the bright coloring was confined
to the lips and cheeks, instead of run
ming riot over the whole face, as is
common in country girls; and my new
dress became me well. The trimmings
to my face-hair, eyelashes and eye
brows-were of dark brown, "a CAPT
tai match for my eyes" my father said.
AS for my figure, it was of the medium
height.
"Put these cloves in your pocket,
child" said Aunt Pidge, coming into
my chamber with mufiled tread (sht
had pulled an extra pair of socks ovel
her shoes since the cold weathor),
land keep your mouth full all the way,
to ward off Influential.
1t was useless to protest. / accepted
J the proffered handful, and, hearing the
} school-master' ring, hurried through
my toilet.
Five minutes later, as Mr.. Allis
tucked the buffaloes around me, Aunt
Pidge, regardless of the draught, with
the border of her cap blown back by
, the wind, and encircling her head like
; halo, appeared at the door with {
bowl of pepper-tea
"Here, dear. you were going of
, without drinking this. Try some of it.
: Mr.. Allen. It's one of the best sub
scriptions there is for keeping off the
Influential.
Knowing, from previous experience
J that resistance would only prolong tn
q controversy, and l must finally yield
t l swallowed portion of the obnoxious
: fluid, and MIR. Allis, chivalric to tn
: last, followed my example, apparent.
i to the aggravation of his aforemen
/, toned cough.
But the Rubicon was passed. AS W
!, drove from the door our eyes met, an,
we INDUCED in an uncomfortable fit O
: laughter. There is nothing equal t
a hearty laugh for removing embar
. rassment. Inever felt so perfectly a
s ease with Mr. Allis. l enjoyed the rid
!. exceedingly, and entered the dressing
v room at, Tanglewood in the best G
d spirits. Kate Howe, as usual, the cen
e ter of an admiring circle of girls
h greeted me gayly.
o IF she is annoyed by Mr.. hllis' cor
7 duct she certainly conceals her fee
ings well" / thought.
!, She FASTENED to show me a new 81
y of jewelry, a birthday gift from he
/. father.
- at is exquisite" said l, as she fss
= y ened the glittering brooch. "And TIL
ring; l never saw you wear it before
Does it belong with the setP "
No." said Kate, hastily hiding he